FP+... who hates it

[jade1]

Here are some "evening" selections from that week.

 

[Alfalfa]

I think it's worth noting how just a couple of years ago being able to get an FP for Test Track or Soarin just 34 minutes after park opening would be considered normal not to mention expected and now it's pretty much unbelievable?

This was available at EPCOT "after" riding Soarin and TT, I will see if I have a pic of the no line there was for it, but there was no line for it-but even then-wouldn't a line be worth it?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay, I am pretty much speechless at this point. All I can do is shake my head. Thanks for the 'coming attraction' !

I had inadvertently clicked on the photos and it took me to that poster's photo sharing website. One of the photos was labeled as being from May. So if that is the case, this was last year. I wonder if it is prior to offsite guests having the ability to book 30 days ahead. If that is the case or if that privilege was brand new, it would explain the line as it is likely that a number of the folks in line are still booking their first 3.

In other words, this may not be what you witness on an upcoming trip.

 

[jade1]

I think it's worth noting how just a couple of years ago being able to get an FP for Test Track or Soarin just 34 minutes after park opening would be considered normal not to mention expected and now it's pretty much unbelievable?

Ah but what happened to the FP+ would be needed at midnight 60 days out, and scraps at 30 days?

 

[Alfalfa]

Ah but what happened to the FP+ would be needed at midnight 60 days out, and scraps at 30 days?

Completely masked by reduced expectations, I suppose.

 

[jade1]

Completely masked by reduced expectations, I suppose.

AKA debunked for some times of the year, including XMAS Eve.

 

[JimmyV]

here is how it would impact me.
a group of guests gets a fastpass for splash mountain with a window from 1pm-2pm but does not use it.
i get a fastpass with a window of 5pm-6pm and i use it during my hour.
the group of 10 decides that they feel like going between 5pm-6pm.
so now in addition to everyone that got a fastpass with a return time of 5pm-6pm you have people that had an earlier return time also going durign that time.
that could very much so impact my wait time.
you have your opinion and i have mine and i don't feel that i should be attacked for it.

As noted above, it all evens out. No one is "attacking" anyone. People are merely pointing out that Disney specifically allowed and encouraged people to use their FPs beyond the stated window because Disney concluded that it didn't negatively impact any other guest. If Disney reached that conclusion, who are we to argue?

 

[Cormoran]

please don't misquote me.

I didn't misquote you. I' m sorry if that was your impression.

 

[UncleMike101]

IMO Fast Pass was implemented by Disney people who have both the time, and inclination, to set down in front of their PC for hours on end and set up their itinerary for a visit to WDW two months down the road.
Fortunately, in our case, I'm retired and pretty much a computer geek and my Daughter is a stay at home Mom who was raised in the computer world.
Still, we've spent about twenty hours over the past four days setting up our Dining and Fast Pass reservations to fit within our Family parameters for our May visit.
We've adapted to the FP mandate only because a couple of us aren't intimidated by logistical issues.
But many people are, and I have friends who've stopped going to WDW because of the loss of spontaneity and the "No reservations. No eating or rides." policy that Disney has taken on.

 

[humormeeee]

There were a lot of rides this week that broke down that we had FP+ for. One day Tower of Terror was only halfway working and even the FP+ line had a 50 minute wait so they told us we could come back at any point that day and use it, but it didn't get fixed for a long time. We also had FP+ for Star Tours which was down most of the day, we were told we could come back any time any use our FP+ on it. The problem was, because these big rides were down, other rides had heavier lines, and when they came back up their lines were huge and even the FP+ lines were longer than usual. Because they didn't get fixed for a long time, we were not able to get additional fast passes in a timely manner. I don't know, it's like they just didn't think the system through all the way. And when we went back to Tower of Terror, it didn't show up as valid and we had to argue with the lady to let us through and she was very rude about it. All in all, I miss the paper system. I also don't know why you have to load your 4th and 5th selections at a kiosk instead of on your phone through your MDE app. The lines for FP+ kiosks were insane this week and people had no sense that there were people waiting behind them.

 

[goofyernmost]

Just got back after two weeks and the first week FP availability was pretty good, even same day - and SB waits were nice and low for many attractions. I think even Touring Plans revised their crowd level estimates downward for that week.

The second week, though, was the exact opposite. FP's were gone very quickly and by late morning/early afternoon selections were poor. I felt sorry for the people standing in long lines at the kiosks knowing that when they go their turn they were only going to find attractions that they probably could have spent less time the SB line than to stand in line getting an FP for it.

Between a couple of weeks in Nov/Dec and a couple of weeks this month, I'm seeing a pattern - when crowds are low and SB lines are short, FP selection is pretty good even same day. When crowds are higher (7+) and SB lines are longer the FP selection is pretty poor very quickly - and a lot of the headliners are gone a day or two before.

Definitely takes more planning than it used to.

As to the comment about long kiosk lines, I took this picture Thursday (3/19) at MK:

View attachment 83673


.

That photo could be a little misleading. There is a Kiosk there but there are also one of the busiest restroom areas in the park. That isn't just for FP. Also, there are other less busy kiosks scattered throughout the park.

 

[JanaDee]

That photo could be a little misleading. There is a Kiosk there but there are also one of the busiest restroom areas in the park. That isn't just for FP. Also, there are other less busy kiosks scattered throughout the park.

Unless there is only one sex standing in line, it can't be attributed to the bathroom.

 

[goofyernmost]

Unless there is only one sex standing in line, it can't be attributed to the bathroom.

The general backup can and at that spot there are lines for both male and female at times.

 

[JimmyV]

One day Tower of Terror was only halfway working and even the FP+ line had a 50 minute wait so they told us we could come back at any point that day and use it

I hope no one accused you of being a hoarder!

 

[Shaden]

That photo could be a little misleading. There is a Kiosk there but there are also one of the busiest restroom areas in the park. That isn't just for FP. Also, there are other less busy kiosks scattered throughout the park.

You will note that part of the path is for lining up for the kiosks only. I have been to this spot, that's all it is. You can walk right by if you are going to the bathrooms.

 

[Cormoran]

IMO Fast Pass was implemented by Disney people who have both the time, and inclination, to set down in front of their PC for hours on end and set up their itinerary for a visit to WDW two months down the road.
Fortunately, in our case, I'm retired and pretty much a computer geek and my Daughter is a stay at home Mom who was raised in the computer world.
Still, we've spent about twenty hours over the past four days setting up our Dining and Fast Pass reservations to fit within our Family parameters for our May visit.
We've adapted to the FP mandate only because a couple of us aren't intimidated by logistical issues.
But many people are, and I have friends who've stopped going to WDW because of the loss of spontaneity and the "No reservations. No eating or rides." policy that Disney has taken on.

I'm glad you've been able to adapt to the new system. But that thing I appreciate the most about your post, is your ability to see why others don't like FP+. Thank you for not blaming my dislike of FP+ on my inability to adapt to a new system.

 

[Mikie]

As noted above, it all evens out. No one is "attacking" anyone. People are merely pointing out that Disney specifically allowed and encouraged people to use their FPs beyond the stated window because Disney concluded that it didn't negatively impact any other guest. If Disney reached that conclusion, who are we to argue?

Well where on earth would all these debates be if that was truly the prevailing opinion?

 

[DCDisney]

With the tiered system once you've used a tier 1 FP+ you can't get another from the kiosk which is very limiting too depending on what is still available.

 

[UncleMike101]

I'm glad you've been able to adapt to the new system. But that thing I appreciate the most about your post, is your ability to see why others don't like FP+. Thank you for not blaming my dislike of FP+ on my inability to adapt to a new system.

You're welcome.....
Some of the people that I've talked to about the FP situation are as computer savvy as I am but they don't have the desire to put such a substantial amount of time into a project that is so restrictive.
The "Walk in and have a good time" era at WDW is gone and has been replaced by the "You must have a reservation!" mentality that, in my mind, smacks of elitism and preference for those who are better off.

 

[Kingdome8]

I love fast pass. I love planning the trip

But we go thru park at our pace and ride what we want. But it's nice to know we have 3 of our favorite rides in our back pockets to ride with no wait. I think people just need things to whine about